Beating Jet Lag As anyone who has flown through several time zones will attest, jet travel can put a real damper on any trip. It can throw your body's internal clock out of synch causing fatigue, insomnia, disorientation and headaches. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to minimize the effects. They say to schedule eastbound flights in the morning and westbound flights in the afternoon. This is not always possible. We are at the mercy of the airlines and their schedules. An a.m. flight will get you to your destination while it's still daylight. Schedule westbound flights at night. An evening flight simply extends your usual 24-hour day. This allows your internal clock to adjust more quickly. You should get on European time as quickly as possible by sleeping on the flight and then adopting the time of your destination. Have lunch and dinner on their time and then go to bed on their time - maybe a little earlier than your usual time in order to make up for any sleep you may have missed the night before. While In Flight Make yourself comfortable. For long flights, dress comfortably in natural fiber clothing when possible, and consider bringing a neck pillow, eye shades, ear plugs and slipper socks. Prepare yourself mentally by setting your watch to destination's local time. Drink plenty of water or fruit juice to avoid dehydration. Caffinated or carbonated beverages and alcohol dehydrate your body and should be consumed in moderation. Eat and sleep in keeping with the local time of your destination. On overnight flights, keep an eye on your valuables. When you go to the lavatory, take your purse with you. Upon your arrival Help yourself get readjusted by fighting the urge to nap during daylight hours. Instead, take a shower, take a walk, go exploring or plan an activity that gets you up and around. Most helpful is the timing of your eating and sleeping patterns to those of your new destination